{"title":"单侧听力损失对听力损害的影响:日本标准化声音定位测试的多中心研究","authors":"Takashi Ishino , Tadao Yoshida , Satoshi Iwasaki , Naoki Oishi , Yusuke Matsuda , Tetsuya Tono , Kazuma Sugahara , Hiroshi Yamazaki , Sumito Jitsukawa , Hiroshi Nakanishi , Ryosuke Kitoh , Takashi Sato , Kazuki Nishida , Takashi Oda , Rikuto Fujita , Tomohiro Kawasumi , Chie Ishikawa , Manabu Nishida , Nobuyuki Chikuie , Yuichiro Horibe , Sachio Takeno","doi":"10.1016/j.anl.2025.09.010","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study had two primary objectives: first, to standardize a sound localization test across multiple facilities in Japan, and second, to use this standardized test to analyze sound localization ability in patients with unilateral hearing loss (UHL) and identify related clinical and demographic factors.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Sound localization tests were conducted at 11 facilities, enrolling 59 UHL subjects and 77 normal-hearing controls (Ctrl). The first part of the study focused on standardizing the test protocol and establishing reference ranges and cut-off values. The second part analyzed the sound localization ability in UHL patients, measured by the root mean squared (RMS) error. The association between RMS values and factors such as residual hearing, contralateral routing of signal (CROS) hearing aid use, and Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults (HHIA) scores were analyzed.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Reference ranges and cut-off values for the standardized sound localization test were successfully established. UHL subjects exhibited significantly higher RMS values (i.e., poorer localization) compared to controls. The use of CROS hearing aids did not improve performance, and the contribution of pinna-induced spectral cues was limited. Significant associations were found between RMS values and both sound presentation position and the number of audiogram frequencies with thresholds better than 40 dB and 50 dB, with the 50 dB threshold criterion being a more prominent factor. HHIA emotional and social scores were significantly associated only with age and not with sound localization performance or other audiological factors.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The standardized sound localization test proved to be a reliable tool for multicenter studies. Patients with UHL have significantly impaired sound localization. Residual hearing in the impaired ear, even if limited, was found to aid localization, whereas the benefits of CROS hearing aids and monaural spectral cues were negligible in our cohort. Since only age influenced the self-perceived hearing handicap (HHIA scores), it is crucial to consider restoring binaural hearing not just to improve sound localization but also to address the broader quality-of-life issues associated with UHL.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55627,"journal":{"name":"Auris Nasus Larynx","volume":"52 6","pages":"Pages 690-703"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5000,"publicationDate":"2025-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":"{\"title\":\"Impact of hearing impairment in unilateral hearing loss: A multicenter study of standardized sound localization tests in Japan\",\"authors\":\"Takashi Ishino , Tadao Yoshida , Satoshi Iwasaki , Naoki Oishi , Yusuke Matsuda , Tetsuya Tono , Kazuma Sugahara , Hiroshi Yamazaki , Sumito Jitsukawa , Hiroshi Nakanishi , Ryosuke Kitoh , Takashi Sato , Kazuki Nishida , Takashi Oda , Rikuto Fujita , Tomohiro Kawasumi , Chie Ishikawa , Manabu Nishida , Nobuyuki Chikuie , Yuichiro Horibe , Sachio Takeno\",\"doi\":\"10.1016/j.anl.2025.09.010\",\"DOIUrl\":null,\"url\":null,\"abstract\":\"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study had two primary objectives: first, to standardize a sound localization test across multiple facilities in Japan, and second, to use this standardized test to analyze sound localization ability in patients with unilateral hearing loss (UHL) and identify related clinical and demographic factors.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Sound localization tests were conducted at 11 facilities, enrolling 59 UHL subjects and 77 normal-hearing controls (Ctrl). The first part of the study focused on standardizing the test protocol and establishing reference ranges and cut-off values. The second part analyzed the sound localization ability in UHL patients, measured by the root mean squared (RMS) error. The association between RMS values and factors such as residual hearing, contralateral routing of signal (CROS) hearing aid use, and Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults (HHIA) scores were analyzed.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Reference ranges and cut-off values for the standardized sound localization test were successfully established. UHL subjects exhibited significantly higher RMS values (i.e., poorer localization) compared to controls. The use of CROS hearing aids did not improve performance, and the contribution of pinna-induced spectral cues was limited. Significant associations were found between RMS values and both sound presentation position and the number of audiogram frequencies with thresholds better than 40 dB and 50 dB, with the 50 dB threshold criterion being a more prominent factor. HHIA emotional and social scores were significantly associated only with age and not with sound localization performance or other audiological factors.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The standardized sound localization test proved to be a reliable tool for multicenter studies. Patients with UHL have significantly impaired sound localization. Residual hearing in the impaired ear, even if limited, was found to aid localization, whereas the benefits of CROS hearing aids and monaural spectral cues were negligible in our cohort. Since only age influenced the self-perceived hearing handicap (HHIA scores), it is crucial to consider restoring binaural hearing not just to improve sound localization but also to address the broader quality-of-life issues associated with UHL.</div></div>\",\"PeriodicalId\":55627,\"journal\":{\"name\":\"Auris Nasus Larynx\",\"volume\":\"52 6\",\"pages\":\"Pages 690-703\"},\"PeriodicalIF\":1.5000,\"publicationDate\":\"2025-10-18\",\"publicationTypes\":\"Journal Article\",\"fieldsOfStudy\":null,\"isOpenAccess\":false,\"openAccessPdf\":\"\",\"citationCount\":\"0\",\"resultStr\":null,\"platform\":\"Semanticscholar\",\"paperid\":null,\"PeriodicalName\":\"Auris Nasus Larynx\",\"FirstCategoryId\":\"3\",\"ListUrlMain\":\"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0385814625001464\",\"RegionNum\":4,\"RegionCategory\":\"医学\",\"ArticlePicture\":[],\"TitleCN\":null,\"AbstractTextCN\":null,\"PMCID\":null,\"EPubDate\":\"\",\"PubModel\":\"\",\"JCR\":\"Q2\",\"JCRName\":\"OTORHINOLARYNGOLOGY\",\"Score\":null,\"Total\":0}","platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Auris Nasus Larynx","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0385814625001464","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"OTORHINOLARYNGOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
Impact of hearing impairment in unilateral hearing loss: A multicenter study of standardized sound localization tests in Japan
Objective
This study had two primary objectives: first, to standardize a sound localization test across multiple facilities in Japan, and second, to use this standardized test to analyze sound localization ability in patients with unilateral hearing loss (UHL) and identify related clinical and demographic factors.
Methods
Sound localization tests were conducted at 11 facilities, enrolling 59 UHL subjects and 77 normal-hearing controls (Ctrl). The first part of the study focused on standardizing the test protocol and establishing reference ranges and cut-off values. The second part analyzed the sound localization ability in UHL patients, measured by the root mean squared (RMS) error. The association between RMS values and factors such as residual hearing, contralateral routing of signal (CROS) hearing aid use, and Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults (HHIA) scores were analyzed.
Results
Reference ranges and cut-off values for the standardized sound localization test were successfully established. UHL subjects exhibited significantly higher RMS values (i.e., poorer localization) compared to controls. The use of CROS hearing aids did not improve performance, and the contribution of pinna-induced spectral cues was limited. Significant associations were found between RMS values and both sound presentation position and the number of audiogram frequencies with thresholds better than 40 dB and 50 dB, with the 50 dB threshold criterion being a more prominent factor. HHIA emotional and social scores were significantly associated only with age and not with sound localization performance or other audiological factors.
Conclusions
The standardized sound localization test proved to be a reliable tool for multicenter studies. Patients with UHL have significantly impaired sound localization. Residual hearing in the impaired ear, even if limited, was found to aid localization, whereas the benefits of CROS hearing aids and monaural spectral cues were negligible in our cohort. Since only age influenced the self-perceived hearing handicap (HHIA scores), it is crucial to consider restoring binaural hearing not just to improve sound localization but also to address the broader quality-of-life issues associated with UHL.
期刊介绍:
The international journal Auris Nasus Larynx provides the opportunity for rapid, carefully reviewed publications concerning the fundamental and clinical aspects of otorhinolaryngology and related fields. This includes otology, neurotology, bronchoesophagology, laryngology, rhinology, allergology, head and neck medicine and oncologic surgery, maxillofacial and plastic surgery, audiology, speech science.
Original papers, short communications and original case reports can be submitted. Reviews on recent developments are invited regularly and Letters to the Editor commenting on papers or any aspect of Auris Nasus Larynx are welcomed.
Founded in 1973 and previously published by the Society for Promotion of International Otorhinolaryngology, the journal is now the official English-language journal of the Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Society of Japan, Inc. The aim of its new international Editorial Board is to make Auris Nasus Larynx an international forum for high quality research and clinical sciences.